Today, we’re kicking off a new series, Following Jesus, and we’re going to be spending a few months going through the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. Its amazing b/c in 3 chapters, like a 20 minute sermon, Jesus gives us some of the richest teaching in the history of the world and He systematically teaches us how God wants us to live. Most of it is radically counter-culture, so be prepared to disagree with Jesus (not me). At some point, we probably all will. I know Jesus offends me all the time. But whaddya gonna do – He’s God. (He’s not looking for consensus)
2. As the SOT Mount kicks off, I love the set up. Jesus is literally about to commence the greatest ethical teaching the world has ever known – and check out how he does it. Matthew 5:1, 2. You think I’m casual…Jesus gets ready to teach and he sits down on the side of a hill. Not formal, not in a temple. And we know he had sandals on. Now the Bible doesn’t say, but I’m pretty sure Jesus had jeans on too. I love Jesus’ style – it’s Casual, relevant, straightforward – its for Real people (not religious people).
3. And the first things out of Jesus’ mouth are pretty strange. We know them as the Beatitudes; just the word alone is pretty strange. It comes from the Latin word “Beatus” which means Blessed. there are a couple of different types of Beatitudes. There are behavioral beatitudes; ways you’re supposed to act, and then there are dispositional beatitudes; attitudes we’re supposed to have. And combined, they speak to the whole person – our desires, our attitudes, our behavior and even our circumstances – they speak to all facets of life.
4. And as you look at the Beatitudes, at first glance, you’re going what?? Blessed are the, huh? Doesn’t really make sense. On the surface, Jesus’ prescribed path to blessing seems almost opposite of what we think or want or what the preacher on TV’s telling us. But this is what The Lord teaches us about the Blessed Life. Matthew 5:3-12.
5. As you look over the list, you’re going are you sure this is the path to a blessed life? But each one carries with it a special blessing; a promise. a bunch of IF, THEN scenarios. And as you look at the list, I think all of us want the THEN stuff, the promises. We want to be in the kingdom of heaven, we want to inherit the earth, we want to see God, be shown mercy, be comforted, have great reward. We all want blessing (nobody I talk to says, well I just really hope my life stinks). We want to be blessed, and so Jesus says, here’s how. Here’s the path to a blessed life.
6. And I love where Jesus starts. He starts at the beginning. Not by coincidence, the first Beatitude is about our spiritual disposition. Jesus says Blessed is the person who is poor in spirit. Greek; Ptochos pneuma. Literally, cowering like a beggar, spiritually. Blessed are the spiritual beggars. Interesting blessing. You’d almost expect the opposite; that you’d be blessed if you’re spiritually rich. You’ve got it going on spiritually. You’re naming and claimin’. Healin’ and dealin’; But that’s not what Jesus says.
7. Jesus says, God’s looking for people who are spiritually needy and they know it. People who admit that they are sinners in need of a Savior. Now keep in mind, Jesus is speaking to people who are used to pompous religious leaders touting their personal righteousness. The Pharisees would never admit that they were spiritually poor – in need of God. They were on a mission to make sure everybody understood that they were accepted by God b/c of their righteousness.
8. They were like a lot of church people I’ve met in my life. Pray for me b/c I generally don’t like church people. Now I’m a pastor, so that could be a problem. I love Christ-followers, just not churchy religious types. But the game in so many churches is to put on the mask. To look good, act good, pretend you’re better than everybody else. Nobody needs to know the real you. In a lot of churches, that’s how leaders get selected. The guys that dress nice and seem good on the outside, they’re popular – it’s political. And the game is to appear to be rich in spirit.
9. Jesus says blessed is the person who doesn’t play the game. Blessed are the REAL. Amen? The people who are willing to be real with God and themselves. They’re honest about their spiritual condition; they come to God and say I need you! I’m a sinner in need of a Savior; please forgive me, save me, help me. Jesus says that person gets in the kingdom.
10. We live in a culture where 95% of Americans say that they are basically “Good” people. Now if you just take the percentage of people in prison, on parole, probation, convicted of a crime; that number doesn’t hold up. And the truth is, 100% have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Ro. 3:23). The Bible says there is no one who is good, not one. But most people can’t admit that – we feel like we’re already good on our own and don’t need God. Jesus says blessed are the people who get that they’re not good, that they need God.
11. As David says in Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. God’s a sucker for a self-aware sinner. Gets him every time. When you stand at God’s door in your spiritual shame, your righteousness that’s like filthy rags and you say, can I come in, God says, “ABSOLUTELY!” In fact, we’re going to have a party in your honor. Welcome Home! Blessed are the spiritual beggars – they’re welcome in God’s kingdom anytime!
12. Jesus goes on to say blessed are those who mourn. Anyone ever mourned before? Not just cry, but mourn…heart breaking, gut wrenching, snot-dripping, mascara running; just jacked up. I’ve been there. Not so much the mascara part. But I’ve been broken. I’ve done my share of mourning. It’s not fun. It doesn’t feel blessed. But Jesus says, blessed are you when life breaks you down so much, kicks you so hard, hurts so bad that the only place you have to turn is God; you will be comforted.
13. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Paul describes God as the God of all comfort. 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. I’m guessing this one hits home. We all have something that hurts. From the past, the present. From our sins, from other people’s sins against us. From loss. Some of us in here have lost loved ones, you’ve lost marriages, you’ve lost your children to drugs. And we mourn.
14. But what Jesus says is blessed are you when life just kicks you in the gut so hard that it leads you to the cross. Praise God - you’re right where you need to be. And if you look up and take that hand from heaven, you’ll find a comfort you’ve never known. While it’s not really a blessing to mourn, it is a blessing to experience God’s personal comforting touch in your life. (prayer after service – we’re here b/c we care)
15. In the next Beatitude and a few of the others, Jesus talks about how we should live. He talks about living in a way that’s radically different than what the world teaches us. To be meek, merciful, peace-makers, we’re blessed when we’re persecuted and taken advantage of. That’s totally opposite of the “look out for number 1” mentality of the world.
16. A friend of mine told me that before God started messing with his life, his old motto was “Look out for number 1 so you don’t step in number 2.” Jesus says, if you’re going to follow God and really get life right, you’re going to have to realize that you’re number 2. Not that kind, but second place. But to truly get life right, God has to be number 1. And if He’s number 1, He’ll take care of number 2.
17. Really, the bottom line of the Beatitudes, and even the entire SOT Mount is – are you willing to trust God with your life? Jesus is trying to get us to be willing to take life as it comes and live like God’s called us to live, knowing, believing, trusting that God’s got my back? If you truly trust God, then you can be meek and submit to God and others (literally in the Greek, praus, “power under control” ala domestic animals). Jesus is saying, blessed are you when you allow God to control and guide your life – you’re power is under his control.
18. You can show mercy, blessed are you when you don’t have to repay evil for evil, b/c you know God will make it right; He’ll give you justice. Blessed are you when, Even if you have to take it on the chin, you can be a peace-maker, b/c you know God’s keeping score – He’ll bless you. And when you have to endure persecution, and people put you down, hurt you, talk about you, Blessed are you! Great is your reward in Heaven! God’s got your back!
19. And Jesus doesn’t just challenge our behaviors, He even goes so far as to challenge our desires – hunger / thirst. Pure in heart. What do you really want out of life? Are you willing to trust God to fulfill your desires? Do you trust God enough to hunger and thirst for what He wants more than what you want? That’s tough. Do you trust God enough to be pure in heart; in motive, in desire? If so, then you will see God and He will fulfill you in a deep and personal way that only God can. You will be FILLED!
20. Its ironic b/c I used to live to fulfill myself. Whatever made me feel good, that’s what I wanted to do. You can imagine where that led me. But the more I lived to fulfill myself, the less fulfilled I was! I never had enough. The more I got, the more I wanted. The more pleasure I had, the more I wanted. And God had to take away so much of what I wanted to give me what I needed. But Psalm 37:4. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. If you’re willing to trust the one who made you, to fulfill you…If you’re willing to set your desires in and on Him? You will see God and be fulfilled!
21. I realize Jesus is cutting deep here. As Hebrews says, He divides even soul and spirit – judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. B/c what He wants to give us is so much more. It’s so much more lasting, so much more real and satisfying. And while the Beatitudes are tough to live out – they also have amazing promises. As we walk the difficult road of mourning, meekness, of pure hearted peace-making and persecution, we can also look forward to being called sons of God, inheriting the earth, seeing God and being filled by God, being shown mercy, having Great Reward in Heaven! Praise God that the path we’re walking leads to a throne at the right hand of the Father where Jesus is ruling the Universe. As Paul says, we are Co-Heirs with Christ. As we live like Jesus lived, we gain what Jesus gained.
22. If we’re going to be “Christians or Christ followers”, then at some point we’re going to have to start following. Walking where He walks, how He walks. Living how he lived and taught us to live. If we’re going to be a church that’s like Jesus, then this is exactly the place to start. Blessed are we when we come to Jesus and say –Lord, lead me. I need you. I want to do life your way. I need you spiritually, and I’m willing to trust you with the direction of my life, even the deepest desires of my heart.
23. As we come to communion time, we have some choices to make. We can’t just take the emblems and say thanks, but when we eat and drink his body and blood, we’re basically saying, “I’m with you, Lord. I’m willing to follow you, wherever you lead.” It’s not an easy cup that we drink – there’s a reason this road is narrow and few find it – b/c it’s hard. It’s hard to follow Jesus. It’s tough to walk that road, but it IS the ONLY path to blessing. To life, to eternity with God in Heaven. Blessed are we when we follow Jesus.
